NEED HELP WITH COMPATIBILITY CPU/CARD/PSU

[secret1337]

Hello, I just want to ask what will be the best replacement for my old graphics card (Nvidia 9800gt 512mb), to play skyrim at very high, extreme mode?

my specs

- Intel core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4Ghz
- 4gb Ram DDR2
- Asus P5n-E sli Motherboard
- 550w PSU
- Nvidia 9800gt graphics card



I am thinking of getting a

GTX 550 ti
GTX 560
GTX 560 ti

but I dont know if it will be alright with my current specs, since I dont know much alot about pc hardware, I dont like ATI cards as well because they don't have physx.


can you guys tell me the best option? since I dont have alot of money, graphics card is the only thing i can afford for now.

please tell me what will be the difference, and the requirements, as well if it will bottleneck my pc.

Thank you.

 

[pickleman_42]

Your PSU certainly has enough extra power for that upgrade, exept it may bottleneck because the GPU's you mentioned are top of the line. I would suggest getting a lower end GPU such as an NVIDIA 9800GTX. or an ATI GPU because they are more low end. if you need the power of the gtx 560s then you should upgrade the CPU and Motherboard. Maybe even the ram.

 

[jemm]

GTX 560 ti is a great card, but you might need a more powerful PSU -- also your CPU may bottleneck the card in some way.

 

[pickleman_42]

To play on extreme or high settings your specs with an nvidia 9800 you may have to play on medium
and ATI isnt so bad either, they are for people with a budget like you for example.

 

[secret1337]

I just want to play skyrim at ultra mode, but I couldn't decide which card I should buy, but my only problem is my cpu,and psu compatiblity... but is there a best nvidia card to play skyrim at ultra mode?

i am planning of buying more ram for pc and change from 32bit to 64bit, like 8gigram,

but yea its the gpu and cpu plus psu is what I need to know

if you guys have any suggestions with gpu for skyrim please tell

 

[Rugger]

Skyrim is not a particularly GPU-intensive game, but it is CPU intensive. I was playing it just below Ultra settings at 1900x1024 with an HD5770. You could easily hit Ultra settings at that resolution with an HD 6850. The 550TI might be able to hit Ultra settings, but the GTX 560 (non ti) will definitely be able to do it. I think that you'll find yourself CPU limited with any of the GPU upgrades that you are considering.

 

[secret1337]

@rugger any suggestion of best card for skyrim? as well i am playing at 1600x900, but i am lowering the resolution for better fps, i just hate playing at below 30fps.

 

[Rugger]

What is the make/model of your PSU? Any good quality 550W PSU should be able to run any of the cards that you are considering. There are no compatibility issues between GPU/CPU.

 

[secret1337]

this is my psu, it was taken long ago
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/psuy.jpg/

 

[Rugger]

Either the 550ti or the 560 should let you play at Ultra settings. Personally I would go for a 6850 or 6870. The 6850 stomps the 550ti and is only $20 more. It's $50-80 less than a GTX 560, but nearly as fast. HiS 6850 for $120 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161384

Skyrim doesn't support Physx...most games don't. I would only consider the lack of Physx as a bad thing if I wanted to play a game that actually uses the tech.

 

[secret1337]

so i should go with ATI instead of Nvidia??

can HD6850 run it in extreme mode? because I really like modding stuffs with games, thats why i like a better gpu to run it with my current specs.

is there more any suggestions you can give to me?

 

[Rugger]

this is my psu, it was taken long ago
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/psuy.jpg/

CWT is a good PSU mfr and that has plenty of power on the 12V rails to run any of the GPUs that we're talking about.

 

[secret1337]

so should I go with 560's?

 

[Rugger]

so i should go with ATI instead of Nvidia??

can HD6850 run it in extreme mode? because I really like modding stuffs with games, thats why i like a better gpu to run it with my current specs.

is there more any suggestions you can give to me?

The 6850 can max settings in Skyrim at your resolutions. I'm not sure that the 550ti can max settings. The 560 can, but you'll spend $50 more to get one. If you want to stick with nvidia, then I would go for the GTX 560. If you're willing to get ATI then I would recommend the 6850.

 

[secret1337]

The 6850 can max settings in Skyrim at your resolutions. I'm not sure that the 550ti can max settings. The 560 can, but you'll spend $50 more to get one. If you want to stick with nvidia, then I would go for the GTX 560. If you're willing to get ATI then I would recommend the 6850.

alright I decided that I will go with 560 ti , but is it really alright with my psu? i am considering upgrading my ram from 4gig to 8gig as well, and im pretty sure it will bottleneck my pc right?

 

[xxyougotownedzz]

or an ATI GPU because they are more low end

Do you have anything that proves this because i can prove you that a Radeon HD 7950 or 7970 beats a Nvidia GTX 580.

 

[secret1337]

Do you have anything that proves this because i can prove you that a Radeon HD 7950 or 7970 beats a Nvidia GTX 580.

please stay on topic, and don't argue with ati being low end or high end or it beats with nvidia

thank you.

 

[xxyougotownedzz]

For the graphics card i would recommend a GTX 560 Ti and to prevent any Bottleneck's i would recommend you overclock your CPU. The Q6600 is known to OC pretty well with a descent cooler. Like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565
This particular 560 Ti has a very cool and quiet cooler on it so you could easily overclock it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[secret1337]

For the graphics card i would recommend a GTX 560 Ti and to prevent any Bottleneck's i would recommend you overclock your CPU. The Q6600 is known to OC pretty well with a descent cooler. Like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565
This particular 560 Ti has a very cool and quiet cooler on it so you could easily overclock it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

I have the
Commodore Gaming / Ice Cube cooling technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZOvDdKG2Yg

but whenever I coverclock my pc, it doesnt last long, as it will shutdown itself. what do you think is the betting thing i should do?

* I am going to buy GTX 560 Ti
*upgrading my ram to 8gig

what else? other than overclocking my cpu?

 

[xxyougotownedzz]

I have the
Commodore Gaming / Ice Cube cooling technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZOvDdKG2Yg

but whenever I coverclock my pc, it doesnt last long, as it will shutdown itself. what do you think is the betting thing i should do?

* I am going to buy GTX 560 Ti
*upgrading my ram to 8gig

what else? other than overclocking my cpu?

These two upgrades are a good choice. But when you Overclocked your CPU did you incresed the voltage? Other than that you cannot do much else in terms of upgrades.

 

[secret1337]

These two upgrades are a good choice. But when you Overclocked your CPU did you incresed the voltage? Other than that you cannot do much else in terms of upgrades.

there is an AI overclocking option at my motherboard Asus p5n-e sli, and I just use that thing to increase like about 10-15% because if I do 20% pc crashes.. i dont know how to overclock from voltage. I dont have much knowledge about pc hardware

 

[xxyougotownedzz]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/198882/overclocking_for_newbies.html
This is a detailed guide that should help you to overclock your CPU.

 

[secret1337]

*UPDATE

i will buy HD 6870 from a guy for £60

can it be able to run in my current specs? for a replacement in my old gpu 9800gt 512mb?


550w CWT http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/psuy.jpg/ <--- my psu
asus p5n-e sli motherboard
4gb ram
intel core 2 q6600 OC @ 2.70ghz




Please tell me guys, need some help.
or if you guys have some suggestion please post.

 

[Rugger]

Yes, your PSU will run an HD6870 with no problem.

 

[secret1337]

thanks